BERLUSCONI DECADENCE

From Wednesday, November 27 , Silvio Berlusconi is no longer a member of the Italian Republic. The Senate decided so by voting in favor of his decadence, as prescribed by judgment after the trial of broadcast Mediaset’s rights, owned by Berlusconi. What does happen or should happen after this judgment?

The severance pay and pension
The loss of Senator’s office does not prevent a member to receive the money due as provided for every Italian parliamentarian who leaves after two years. In Berlusconi’s case it is a severance payment of € 160 thousand and a pension of 8000 € per month. (Damn! So much for the crisis and sacrifices that are continually being asked to nationals!)

Political freedom
Berlusconi can continue his political activity, but he can’t present his candidacy, and needs a permission to leave his city. Consistent with this, he can have talk in and lead his party.

The title of Knight
Because of the restrictions caused by the downfall, there is the loss of all titles acquired. Among these, there is also the title of Knight, the emeritus status that Berlusconi got in 1977.

The investigations and processes
The final sentence in the Mediaset process has not concluded Berlusconi’s legal problems. In addition to the judgment about Ruby trial, there is the issue of the senator’s sales of and the likely process for bribery of witnesses. Now, for the prosecution will be easier to arrange interception against the ex senator.

Disqualification for public office
In a few months the Supreme Court has to confirm the ban to access to any public studio, for a period of two years. It means that Berlusconi cannot vote, cannot be elected, cannot perform any public office, and he will also lose all titles and honors received.

The Detention
Not having any parliamentary shield, the former minister now is a citizen like any other. When one of the prosecutors who is investigating on him decides for a preventive arrest, now there will be no benefit to protect him (in effect, the Parliament must vote to allow the arrest of a deputy or senator). This just is the eventual scenario that terrifies Berlusconi.

The social services
Berlusconi has chosen to avoid the house arrest applying for social services, in order to have more freedom. A penalty that will last 12 months (but probably will be discounted to 9 /10). He will begin it in the early months of 2014, perhaps on April; since then, every day, he will have to spend some time in the body/authority that he has chosen.

Freedom of movement
When he begins serving his sentence, Mr. Berlusconi may not leave his home between 11 and 6 pm and he cannot go abroad (his passport has been confiscated). All things that will complicate his political activity although he has vowed that he never will give up.